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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Rapid Bay to Robe.

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Have I mentioned the
wind?

Despite the weather
appearing to clear on sunset, the wind and rain returned during the
night. At one point I awoke to hear the sound of what was obviously
my billy being cart-wheeled across the camp ground. I was up and
chasing it instantly, otherwise it would have ended up in the bay.

Wet Tent on Windy Beach

A windy, cold and damp
morning. Up at the now usual 6:30am. A slow breakfast with much
needed hot coffee. I procrastinated, drawing out the packing process
in the vain hope the sun might come out and dry my tent. No such
luck. Reluctantly I rolled up the wet tent, finished packing and rode
out of Rapid Bay. Despite the bad weather it had been a good camp
site.

The road down to Cape
Jervis – the ferry terminal for Kangaroo Island was a good way to
start the day. The wind was relentless and cold, but at least it had
stopped raining. Just a bit of 'scotch mist' persisted, keeping the
road damp and my visor damp.

Cape Jervis - Kangaroo Island Ferry Terminal

After checking out the
ferry terminal and watching it being loaded for the next trip I
backtracked up the road to the turn-off for Victor Harbor. Another
great ride along the ridge line. Lots of corners but a good well
engineered road. Victor Harbor is clearly a prime tourist
destination. Lots of coaches, grey nomads and other tourists. Found a
good 'German Bakehouse' for coffee and cake. Yum!

Back on the road to
Goolwa and the Murray river. Very suburban, and again Goolwa is
another tourist stop. Paused at the Hindmarsh Island Bridge in time
to see a paddle steamer sail past.

After Goolwa I hit the
back roads as I worked my way around Lake Alexandrina, ending up
crossing the Murray at an old ferry point called Wellington.

Then out
onto the Princes Highway and a blast through the Coorong, buffeted
all the way by that damned wind. Today makes 7 days riding in a row
that the wind has been a curse.

Finally pulled over in
Robe, an old port – second only to Adelaide in the old days, before
it was bypassed by the rail network. Full of old buildings including
the Caledonian Inn – where I'm staying. The first 'civilised'
lodging I've had since leaving Esperance.

The Caledonian Inn - Robe

I now have time to
spare before I need to be in Melbourne, so I will meander through
parts of inland Victoria I've not visited before, including the
Grampians., before returning to the coast for the last run into
Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road.